Poor mental health currently costs the UK economy an estimated £99bn per year, and places a massive strain on individuals, their families and communities. Supporting and treating those with common, complex and comorbid mental health difficulties – like depression, anxiety and PTSD – is one of the major challenges facing policy makers and clinicians.

We address this with a wide programme of experimental research that seeks to understand the cognitive and neural mechanisms involved when someone experiences mental health difficulties. This experimental work is then translated to develop novel theory-based interventions that are trialled within clinical settings. By understanding basic mechanisms we aim to develop new therapies that can be used on the front-line to promote mental wellbeing.